Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Marsha De Cordova Excerpts
Tuesday 15th March 2022

(2 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Glen Portrait John Glen
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We worked to give widespread support to lots of individuals across the economy. I cannot give the hon. Lady the exact chapter and verse on individuals who have been supported, but we will continue to work on Companies House reform, which will be the most significant reform of the companies register in 170 years, and later this year we will publish a second economic crime plan and fraud action plan to address the threats that we continue to see.

Marsha De Cordova Portrait Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)
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T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Rishi Sunak Portrait The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rishi Sunak)
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In response to Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, the Treasury has helped deliver a world-leading package of economic sanctions to deliver severe consequences to the Russian economy. Across insurance, finance, trade, public and private capital markets, clearing, SWIFT, central bank assets and, indeed, bank asset freezes, we are ensuring that the Government play a leading role in making sure that Putin’s aggression does not go unpunished.

Marsha De Cordova Portrait Marsha De Cordova
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Families in my constituency are facing the cost of living crisis, and the planned real-terms cut to social security will force more of them into poverty and into having to make impossible decisions between eating and heating their home. According to the Trussell Trust, one in three on universal credit were not able to dress for the weather last month as they could not afford appropriate clothing or shoes. That is unacceptable. Will the Chancellor increase the level of social security support in his spring statement next week to alleviate some of the worst impacts of the cost of living crisis?

Rishi Sunak Portrait Rishi Sunak
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As is common to all other years, welfare is uprated annually by September’s CPI. That will be the case next year as well, as my right hon. and learned Friend the Financial Secretary laid out. For those on universal credit we have cut the tax rate to ensure that work pays, delivering a £2 billion tax cut to 2 million on low incomes—the best route out of poverty.